Duchess by Mistake by Cheryl Bolen

Author:Cheryl Bolen
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Cheryl Bolen
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

After sweeping past White's porter and entering the club's largest chamber, Philip's gaze swung from the front of the room where Alvanley was seated at the bow window with three other men, all of them talking loudly and drinking large quantities of brandy. Philip's attention settled on the gathering of white and silver-headed peers who were seated and standing around Lord Knolles. At least a dozen fellow members of the House of Lords were intently listening to the Lord Chancellor, who looked like a monarch holding court right in the center of London's most prestigious club.

"I presently control four and twenty seats in the House of Commons," Lord Knolles said. "Together, we—those of you with me tonight—can exert our authority over these men who owe their offices to us." His gaze fanned over those encircling him. "I daresay those of us here account for nearly half the members of the House of Commons."

"And if we don't stand up against this unjust tax increase," Lord Highsmith said, a grim expression upon his face, "every man here will lose his lands."

"That's not true!" Philip moved closer, glaring at the knot of powerful peers.

Lord Knolles' eyes narrowed. "The Right Honorable Duke of Aldridge disagrees?"

"Aldridge's father must be turning in his grave," Lord Clapington mumbled.

"Who'd have thought the duke would turn out to be a bloody Whig?" another said.

"I am neither Whig, nor Tory," Philip said, his voice powerful yet respectful. "I am an Englishman, and I will always vote for what I feel is best for my country."

Lord Knolles heaved an audible sigh. "You cannot be expected to know about the workings of English government. You've sat in our chamber for merely a week—after spending several years away from this country you profess to love so thoroughly."

The aging peer was still in possession of a strong voice, even though advancing years had left his shoulders sagging, his nose bulbous, and his hands shaking.

Rothcomb-Smedley stepped closer to the Lord Chancellor. "Now see here, Lord Knolles, you cannot know how deeply the Duke of Aldridge is committed to crushing France." His gaze flared to Philip.

Philip cautioned himself to speak without rancor, to be respectful. "Because I have been in Italy, my lord, I was able to observe what happens to a grand old kingdom, like the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily, when that Corsican monster usurps some of the most noble families in all of Europe to place his corrupt siblings upon the throne."

"We cannot allow that to happen in England," Rothcomb-Smedley said. "Like you men, I was born to a noble old English family. My mother was a sister of the old Marquess of Haverstock, and my father was a younger son of the Earl of Sutton. No one could wish to preserve these old properties more than I."

The aristocrats being addressed listened without interrupting. Was that because Philip and Rothcomb-Smedley had spoken rationally and with courtesy?

"The proposed tax will increase the present rate by just ten percent," Philip said. "I understand for

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.